Chapter 782 Happy event at home
Cooper opened another folded piece of parchment, glanced at it briefly, and continued: "Now that the temperature has begun to rise, the Tunnel Department needs to make preparations for spring plowing. After the cultivated land has been loosened and the soil has met the planting requirements, food seeds must be distributed to the citizens in time so that they can sow them in time."
"Including the newly reclaimed land in the past few months, the amount of grain used will be 20% more than last year. For those newly added land residents, the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs must send relevant personnel to teach them how to plant. They must not be allowed to plant randomly according to their own experience. This is not only related to the growth of food crops in the future, but also affects the harvest at the end of the year. "
For grain cultivation in Wales, the government has developed unified standards based on past experience. For example, there are clear regulations on how wide the spacing between food crops should be, how much fertilizer should be applied, and even the time of fertilization.
Of course, most farmers in this era practiced extensive cultivation. These regulations are crop planting standards set by government officials based on past experience after Ate gave a basic guidance. Compared with the past, this unified planning guidance has saved labor to a great extent, improved soil fertility, and increased crop yields.
Cooper turned his head and glanced at Scott next to him, and said: "Now, let the officials from the Tunnel Department introduce to you the current spring plowing situation."
At this time, Scott, as the settlement officer, stood up and took out a piece of parchment recording the spring plowing plan. This is the spring plowing plan he prepared last night based on the recent statistics from the following village officials.
"Madam, everyone. At present, the amount of available arable land in Wells Province and the corresponding number of territorial residents have basically reached a balance. In other words, the land we have cultivated so far is exactly allocated to all the territorial residents for farming. This is calculated after accurately determining how many crops a household of territorial residents can plant and manage in a year."
“According to past experience, these cultivated lands currently require at least a week of work by the residents to meet the planting requirements. However, some of the newly joined residents this year have not yet received cultivated land, and the labor force required by the Construction Department is also surplus, so I suggest that these additional residents be allocated to the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs to speed up the process of spring plowing. Of course, these residents who have not received cultivated land can besides In addition to the corresponding rations, you can also get some additional wages for the work. "
"I think this proposal can be passed!"
"Yes, the most important thing now is to ensure that spring plowing is completed smoothly and the harvest at the end of the year is guaranteed~"
This proposal was recognized by many people present. This will not only speed up the pace of spring plowing, but also solve the problem of feeding the remaining labor force.
The old butler Cooper on the side looked at Lottie who was sitting in the lord's seat. This proposal was approved by the countess. Cooper nodded to Scott and motioned for him to continue.
So Scott spoke again.
"Based on past experience, the fertilizer method proposed by the Lord has a remarkable effect. However, as more and more cultivated land is reclaimed and more scattered, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive to transport the fertilizer from a fixed place to cultivated land in different locations. Therefore, the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs decided to build a fertilizer site at regular intervals to fertilize the surrounding cultivated land. "
After speaking, Scott moved the parchment aside and took out another piece of paper from his pocket.
"In addition, as more and more cultivated land is reclaimed in the valley, it also means that the wild boars in the surrounding dense forests that use grain as a source of food have more food sources~"
The government officials present began to whisper after hearing this.
Because not long ago, when the snow in the dense forests around the valley began to melt, wild boars lacking food gathered in groups towards the cultivated land around the residential areas. Not only do they destroy farmland, they also pose a considerable threat to nearby farmers working in the fields.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs, more than ten farmers have been attacked by wild boars since the beginning of spring. Five of them were injured and disabled, two died, and the rest suffered varying degrees of minor injuries.
"Therefore, the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs decided to mobilize some young men with hunting experience from nearby settlements to form multiple agricultural protection teams to patrol around the cultivated land to ensure the smooth progress of spring plowing. The remuneration for the members of the agricultural protection team will be provided by the Ministry of Tunnel Affairs itself."
"In addition, due to the increasing population in the territory, the demand for various meats is also increasing. The Ministry of Tunnel Affairs plans to purchase a batch of livestock from other places for breeding. Firstly, it can solve the problem of meat shortage, and secondly, it can provide the required manure for the fertilizer farm. In addition, the extra meat can be sold to other places through caravans to earn some money. "
"Everyone, this is the general plan of the Tunnel Bureau for the beginning of the year~" Scott said and sat back down.
As an official in charge of the government affairs, this senior official who has followed Yate for a long time can be said to be fulfilling his duties. As Cooper, the chief of the Government Affairs Office, gets older, Scott and Lawrence, who have always been the backbone of the Government Affairs Office, take on more and more government affairs. Cooper saw all this. When Art returns to the valley, he plans to step down from the position of Chief of Government Affairs and let someone else take the position.
At this time, Countess Lottie, who was sitting in the main seat, slowly stood up and affirmed Scott's series of arrangements.
"My lords, spring plowing is related to the harvest of the Province of Wales at the end of the year. Although the Ministry of Village Affairs is specifically responsible for this matter, other departments of the government must provide necessary assistance to the Ministry of Village Affairs to ensure the successful completion of spring plowing."
"I obey my lady's instructions!" Everyone stood up and replied.
After the government meeting, when everyone dispersed, Lottie deliberately left Cooper, Scott and Lawrence alone.
· As the core figures of the government, the three of them shouldered a large number of arduous tasks in Loti's management of the territory.
Without their help, Wales would never be the prosperous and peaceful place it is today. In order to express her gratitude, Lottie specially ordered people to buy several precious bearskin engines from the Northland and gave them to several people as gifts.
"Oli, go get the things."
"Yes, madam."
After a while, Ollie came to a few people holding three exquisite black bearskin trunks.
"Madam, what are you doing~" Cooper knew the preciousness of these bearskin trunks, and his voice was trembling when he spoke.
"Old housekeeper, you have worked hard these days when the master is away. Without your help, how could I, a woman, manage such a large affairs in the territory. I asked the people in the caravan to buy this for you from the North. This is both my intention and the master's."
After saying that, Ollie handed the three bearskin trunks in his arms to several people one by one.
"Madam, this is what we should do, why do you have to~"
Lottie raised her hand to stop Cooper, who had tears in his eyes, and whispered softly: "Old housekeeper, take it." After that, she squeezed Cooper's rough hands.
Scott and Lawrence on the side were also moved by Lottie's sincere affection and burst into tears.
Seeing this scene, Lottie couldn't help but joke, "It would be terrible if the master sees you like this."
Several people quickly wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes and smiled awkwardly.
At nightfall, Lottie prepared another sumptuous dinner for several people.
During the dinner, Cooper reported to Lottie the progress of the expansion of the workshop area during this period.
“..—After receiving the secret letter from the master, I immediately organized the stewards and craftsmen in the workshop area, and conducted a survey of the situation around the workshop area on the original basis. At present, part of the foundation for the expansion has been completed, and when the construction strips are ready, the construction of the main structure can begin. It is estimated that It is expected that the expansion will be completed in up to three months. By then, the output of more profitable commodities such as ironware, weapons, wine and Welsh paper in the workshop area will be tripled from the original basis!" Cooper couldn't hide his excitement in his words, and he took a big sip of the beer at hand.
Lottie on the side listened carefully to Cooper's talk about the expansion of the workshop area. Seeing the pride on the old housekeeper's face, she couldn't help but smile.
Although the old housekeeper is old and his hands and feet are not as flexible as before, his mind is not slow at all.
Since following Art, he has used his hard-working hands and mastered construction skills to transform this uninhabited valley from a wooden castle into the thousands of acres of land and residential areas of various sizes that stretch across the valley today. Like a medieval magician, he transformed this deserted valley into a paradise that everyone flocked to.
While talking, Lawrence, as the Minister of Construction, also reported to Lottie the construction of the lake area residential area near Beiguan Army Fort.
Since the army moved south, Lawrence organized craftsmen and territorial youths to start from the valley land and expand the original trade road, which has now extended to the lake land.
After several months of site selection, material preparation and construction, the newly built residential area in Hudi is enough to accommodate 1,200 people. It is worth mentioning that with the addition of a large number of war slaves sent by the legion from the south, the Construction Department not only received a supplement of manpower, but also saved a large amount of construction expenses.
In addition, the originally impassable trail from the Lake Land to Nanguan Military Fort in northern Lombardy has been expanded over several months and has become a wide trade road that can accommodate two carriages at the same time.
At this point, the ancient trade route from Wales to Lombardy has finally been connected, and Art's idea many years ago has become a reality.
When the dinner was over, the old butler Cooper, who was in a very happy mood, passed out drunkenly at the table because he drank two more drinks.
Scott and Lawrence said goodbye to Lottie, supported Cooper and left here. Early the next morning, Lottie got up early. After dressing up, she went downstairs accompanied by the maid Camille.
"Madam, you're awake!"
Oli, who was preparing breakfast, was bringing over a glass of warm milk.
Suddenly, Lottie, who was standing on the steps, smelled the milk that smelled like milk and suddenly retched - "Madam, what are you~" Ollie was stunned, and after a moment, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at his wife motionlessly.
"Great, my wife is happy!"